Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has raised concerns about the differences in how doping cases are handled in tennis, following a one-month ban for world number two Iga Swiatek.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned substance.
As per the Leaders Asia sources, Halep, who faced a four-year ban (later reduced to nine months) after testing positive for roxadustat in 2022, criticized the ITIA’s inconsistent approach.
“Why is there such a big difference in treatment and judgment?” Halep wrote on Instagram. “I can’t find a logical explanation. It seems like the ITIA is determined to destroy me, despite the evidence.”
According to the Leaders Asia sources, Halep has maintained her innocence, stating her positive test was due to a contaminated supplement. She described the impact on her career and mental health, saying, “I lost two years of my career, countless sleepless nights, and suffered anxiety and unanswered questions.”
Swiatek tested positive for TMZ in August 2024 while world number one. The ITIA found her violation was due to contamination in melatonin, a regulated non-prescription medication she used for sleep and jet lag.
An ITIA spokesperson defended the differences in the cases, saying, “No two cases are the same. The circumstances and substances involved vary significantly, and direct comparisons are not always helpful.”
The ITIA noted that Swiatek’s case involved a regulated medication, unlike Halep’s case, which was linked to a supplement.
